Jazz

Artist:  Pharez Whitted

Title:  Transient Journey

Label: Owl Studios

Terry’s Comments:  Whitted has channeled Freddie Hubbard perhaps better than anybody. Even more impressive is this total ensemble in an updated form of post-bop that bristles.

Artist:  Dave Glasser

Title:  Evolution

Label: Here Tiz Music

Terry’s Comments:  None of these players is a household jazz name but, wow, do they play. Alto saxist Glasser reveals influences from Hodges to Coltrane. A gem.

Artist:  Wycliffe Gordon

Title:  Cone and T-Staff

Label: Criss Cross Jazz

Terry’s Comments:  Trombonist Gordon, a multi-talented alumnus of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, joins with trumpet star Terell Stafford for a fine straightahead outing.

Artist:  Tom Gavornik

Title:  Tom Gavornik on the Floor

Label: Light Action Productions

Terry’s Comments:  Gavornik is a talented guitarist who has assembled a group and some electronics to produce this quirky set of originals.

Artist:  Jim Pearce

Title:  I’m in the Twilight of a Mediocre Career

Label: Oak Avenue Publishing

Terry’s Comments:  Pearce sings like a pianist, meaning he’s a better pianist than singer. He’s a good lyricist, too, reminding one perhaps of Frishberg. There’s also some good playing by good mainstream sideme.

Artist:  Stanton Moore

Title:  Groove Alchemy

Label: self

Terry’s Comments:  Happy, funky groove music by an organ trio, with all the repetitiveness one expects from a group like this.

Artist:  Royce Campbell Trio Plus Phil Woods

Title:  Movie Songs Project

Label: Philology

Terry’s Comments:  Though somewhat under the radar, Campbell is a fine guitarist. Woods at 79 and with emphysema still has surprising energy and, of course, his taste is very much intact.

Artist:  Dave Holland Octet

Title:  Pathways

Label: Dare 2

Terry’s Comments:  The legendary bassist and Miles Davis alumnus leads this “little big band” of eight outstanding players in an always spirited performance of originals.

Artist:  The Rich Greenblatt Group

Title:  Hat Trick

Label: Brass Taco

Terry’s Comments:  This Boston-area vibist is a player to watch. The sextet plays a modern form of jazz that’s often edgy, sometimes incorporating electronics.

Artist:  Junior Mance

Title:  Out South

Label: Jun Glo Music

Terry’s Comments:  His credentials are stunning: Bird, Lester, Hawk, Stitt, Lockjaw, among others. A modern pianist who swings with the best of them, at heart Mance may just be a soul man, whose music can be downright funky-butt. He’s with a quintet here.

Artist:  Geri Allen

Title:  Flying Toward the Sound

Label: Motema Music

Terry’s Comments:  A Brilliant artist, Allen delivers a solo piano performance, an homage to three of her inspirations: Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner and Cecil Taylor. The music is modern, abstract, edgy and always inspired.

Artist:  Jeanie Brandes

Title:  Kisses You Awake

Label: self

Terry’s Comments:  Fine band, good arrangements, great playlist… the singer? Well, you be the judge.

Artist:  Michael Zilber

Title:  The Billy Collins Project: eleven on turning ten

Label: OA2

Terry’s Comments:  Zilber has assigned himself the challenge of writing music to the free verse of Billy Collins. The result is a highly engaging jazz performance by good players and a vocalist. It’s different!

Artist:  Harris Simon

Title:  The Mastery of Passion

Label: Resonance

Terry’s Comments:  One wonders why this is being released for the first time 30 years after being recorded. Keyboardist Simon is joined by some giants of jazz in a fine outing characteristic of where jazz was moving in the late ’70s.

Artist:  Andrew Oliver Sextet

Title:  82% Chance of Rain

Label: OA2

Terry’s Comments:  Is it rock? Is it jazz? Depends on which track you listen to. Sometimes it’s one, sometimes the other. Sometimes it’s both—fusion! A spirited outing.

Artist:  Dee Dee Bridgewater

Title:  Eleanora Fagan—To Billie with Love

Label: DDB Records

Terry’s Comments:  Vocalist Bridgewater is joined by some jazz all-stars in this Billie Holliday tribute, in some cases updating the arrangements significantly.

Blues

Artist: Matthew Stubbs

Title: Medford & Main

Label: Bella Blues

Rock

Artist:  Rafter

Title:Animal Feelings

Label :: Ashmatickitty

Style:: pop/electronic

Artist:  Night Driving In Small Towns

Title:Serial Killers

Label: Lower 40

Style:: Indie/rock

Artist:Tallest man On Earth

Title:The Wild Hunt

Label: Dead Ocean

Riyl:: Bob Dylan

Artist:  Freelance Wheels

Title:Weathervane

Label: French kiss

Riyl:: Death Cab For Cutie

Artist:  Roky Erickson

Title:True Love Cast Out All Evil w/Okkervil River

Label: Anti

Riyl :: The 13th Floor Elevators

Artist:  Cary Brothers

Title:Under Control

Label: Pumpkin Man

Riyl:; Bryan Adams

Artist:; Raul Midon

Title:Synthesis

Label :: Decca

Style:: Rock/roots/reggae

Artist: David Byrne & Fatboy Slim

Title: Here Lies Love

Label: Nonesuch

Artist: Communist Daughter

Title: Soundtrack to The End

Label: Grain Belt

Artist: Mainly Lanes

Title: Oomami

Label: Self Release

Artist: Elliot Smith

Title: Roman Candle

Label: Kill Rock Stars

Artist: Elliot Smith

Title: Basement on the Hill

Label: Kill Rock Stars

Artist: Disco Biscuits

Title: Planet Anthem

Label: Diamond Riggs

Artist: Voodoo Dolls

Title:  Voodoo Dolls

Label: Self Release

Folk

Artist: Doug Wood

Title: Dreamcatcher

Label: Self Release

Artist: Nathaniel Rateliff

Title: In Memory Of Loss

Label: Rounder

Artist: Jill King

Title: Rain on Fire

Label: Foundher Records

Genre: Folk, Americana

Comments: Great Female Americana, sounds like Indigo Girls, Lucinda Williams, Sara Watkins

Bjorn’s Comments: Great for Women Plus show, Folk Shows

Artist: Shaun Ruyman

Title: Luckiest Man Alive

Label: Self

Genre: Pop Folk

Bjorn’s Comments:Sounds like Jack Johnson

Artist: Laura Marling

Title: I Speak Because I can

Label: Astralwerks

Indie Folk

Bjorn’s Comments: Melancoly Folk, with some great voice and instruments.  Mood setting, sounds like Audrey Ryan. Great for Women Plus show, Folk Shows

Local/Regional:

Artist: Marion Grace

Title: Lying Down Looking Up

Label: Self Release

Artist: Electric Mummy

Title: Electric Mummy

Label; Electric Mummy

Riyl: Ramones/Iron Maiden

Artist: Sheila MacDonald

Title: This Way

Label: Sheila MacDonald

Jazz

Artist: Olivier Manchon
Title: Orchestre de Chambre Miniature, Vol. 1
Label: ObliqSound
Terry’s Comments: A classical string quartet with guest soloists added (sax, harmonica, piano). Beautifully lyrical music, wonderful.

Artist: New York Art Quartet
Title: Old Stuff
Label: Cuneiform
Terry’s Comments: This is early (1965) free jazz. From the promoter: “The New York Art Quartet was a band that left the scene too soon. Active for barely a year and a half, the group made just two records—both prized by generations of listeners ever since. Co-leaders John Tchicai (alto sax) and Roswell Rudd (trombone), considered to be the first free-jazz trombonist, had met a year or so earlier, working with Bill Dixon and others to expand the reaches of jazz.” …

Artist: Ahmad Jamal
Title: A Quiet Time
Label: Dreyfus
Terry’s Comments: He’s back! During a 60-year career, Jamal has influenced Miles Davis, scores of pianists, and many other jazz musicians. And just listen—he’s still exploring and growing!

Artist: Marc Pompe
Title: Hi-Fly
Label: Self-produced
Terry’s Comments: Pompe is a fine jazz vocalist in the Jon Hendricks tradition. And the band gives him great support on this set of jazz standards.

Artist: VW Brothers
Title: Muziek
Label: Patois
Terry’s Comments: Two talented players take full advantage of the electronics without sacrificing their taste or creativity. Jazz for the 21st century.

Artist: John Blake, Jr.
Title: Motherless Child
Label: ARC
Terry’s Comments: Modern vocal arrangements of African-American spirituals featuring the Howard University Choir, violinist Blake, pianist Mulgrew Miller and more. An exciting recording.

Artist: Orrin Evans
Title: Faith in Action
Label: Positone
Terry’s Comments: One hears yesterday, today and tomorrow in this music—most of it composed by Bobby Watson—played by a contemporary, hard-swinging piano trio

Artist: Sherman Irby Quartet
Title: Live at the Otto Club
Label: BWR
Terry’s Comments: Irby is a fine alto saxophonist with strong credentials. This live performance in Naples, Italy, connects him and drummer Darrell Green with two very good Italian players for a varied and always hard-swinging set.

Artist: Claudio Roditi
Title: Simpatico
Label: Resonance
Terry’s Comments: Roditi brings his beautiful tone and fluid phrasing on trumpets and flugelhorn to this set of very appealing originals—mostly but not all Latin jazz.

Artist: Joey DeFrancesco
Title: Snapshot
Label: High Note
Terry’s Comments: A live performance by the organist with his original trio, a modern version of the classic organ trio, yet soulful and funky as ever.

Artist: Various Artists
Title: Generation Django
Label: Dreyful
Terry’s Comments: Music in the manner of the great Gypsy guitarist Django Reinhart by players of today (e.g. Birelli Lagrene) and yesterday (e.g. Stephane Grapelli). A real treat!

Artist: John Ellis & Double-Wide
Title: Puppet Mischief
Label: ObliqSound
Terry’s Comments: Fun, updated New Orleans-style jazz. The instrumentation alone makes this one worth hearing. (Sousaphone???)

Artist: Charles Apicella & Iron City
Title: Sparks
Label: CArlo Records
Terry’s Comments: Organ/guitar trio with add-ons—still funky. A good listen.

Artist: Jeffrey Leppart & the Hip Notists
Title: They Still Live in the Music of My Thoughts
Label: self
Terry’s Comments: Good singing group and instrumentalists celebrating jazz and its giants. A nice experience.

Artist: Queen Esther
Title: What Is Love
Label: EL Recordings
Terry’s Comments: This singer is intense (not to mention her intonation problem). Mostly originals, some standards.

Artist: Dave LeMieux and House of Soul
Title: Jazz Shaped/Live at the Soiled Dove
Label: Jazz, funk, soul, vocals, spiritual—it’s quite a mix. And LeMieux (tenor sax) can play!
Terry’s Comments:

Artist: Kristine Mills
Title: Bossanovafied
Label: self
Terry’s Comments: Pretty good singer doing her own songs in the Brazilian style with good players.

Artist: EEA
Title: The Dark
Label: Origin
Terry’s Comments: The trio composition is piano/sax/trumpet, the music abstract and explorative.

Artist: George Cotsirilos Trio
Title: Past Present
Label: OA2
Terry’s Comments: Good, capable guitar trio with a mixed repertoire of standards and originals.

Artist: Liam Sillery
Title: Phenomenology
Label: OA2
Terry’s Comments: Trumpeter Sillery leads a classic quintet configuration in a contemporary, exploratory foray.

Artist: Bob Sneider & Paul Hoffman
Title: Serve and Volley
Label: A piano (Hoffman)/guitar(Sneider) duo performance with engaging interplay and lyricism.
Terry’s Comments:

Artist: Scenes
Title: Rinnova
Label: Origin
Terry’s Comments: A simple instrumentation (guitar trio) playing an original repertoire well.

World:

Artist: Razia

Title: Zebu Nation

Label: Cumbanca

Blues

Artist: Various

Title: Classic Appalachian Blues

Label: Smithsonian Folkways

Artist: John Scofield

Title: Piety Street

Label: Emarcy

Comments: Jazz guitarist John Scofield joins Meters Bassist George Porter, Jr and other great New Orleans musicians in a lively Blues Gospel session that features both standards and original numbers

Rock

Artist: Galatic

Title: Ya-Ka-May

Label: Anti

Artist: Groove Armada

Title: Black Light

Label: Om Records

Artist: Watershed

Title: The World Needs You

Label: EMI

Artist: Matthew Good

Title: Vancouver

Label: Get Music

Artist: Andy Elwell

Title: No One You will ever Know

Label: Self

Artist: Mark Growden

Title: Saint Judas

Label: Porto Franco

Artist: The Ruby Suns

Title: Fight Softly

Label: Sub Pop

Artist: David Byrne

Title Grown Backwards

Label: Nonesuch

Artist: Twin Tigers

Title: Gray Waves

Label: Old Flame

Artist: Anjulie

Title: Boom EP

Label: Hear Music

Artist: Dinosaur Feathers

Title: Fantasy Memorial

Label: Self Release

Artist: Univers Zero

Title: Clivages

Label: Cuneiform

Artist: Algernon

Title: Ghost Surveillance

Label: Cuneiform